The NBA Makes Its Africa Debut
Posted July 29, 2015 by Samaan Ashrawi
This Saturday, the NBA will hold its first ever exhibition game on the continent of Africa. Taking place at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, the sold-out game will pit Team Africa, led by South Sudan’s Luol Deng of the Miami Heat, against Team World, led by Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The game will see NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NBA Africa Managing Director Amadou Gallo Fall (Senegal), NBA “Global Ambassador” Dikembe Mutumbo (DRC), NBA Africa Ambassador Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), as well as Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri (Nigeria) all in attendance.
The NBA, in its press release for the game, boasts that 35 African players have played in the league since Olajuwon arrived in Houston some 30+ years ago.
In the week leading up to the game, NBA players, coaches and legends are holding sessions on leadership and health and wellness for 59 of the top young players on the continent as part of the 13th edition of Basketball Without Borders Africa.
“I am extremely proud to be a part of the NBA’s first game in Africa,” says Deng. “Coming from South Sudan and having participated in the Basketball without Borders Africa camps in Johannesburg previously, I am truly honored to be part of this historic event.”
Joining Deng on the roster for Team Africa is Al-Farouq Aminu (Nigeria), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Nigeria), Nicolas Batum (Cameroon), Bismack Biyombo (DRC), Boris Diaw (Senegal), Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), Festus Ezeli (Nigeria), Luc Mbah a Moute (Cameroon), Congolese forward Serge Ibaka (who will travel but due to injury won’t play), and last-minute addition Nazr Mohammed (Ghana).
Team World’s roster, in addition to NBA Players’ Association president Chris Paul, includes Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards; U.S.), Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets; U.S.), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies; Spain) and his brother Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls), Jeff Green (Grizzlies; U.S.), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics; U.S.), Evan Turner (Celtics; U.S.), and Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic; Montenegro). Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins will be drawing up Xs and Os for Team World.
In the following pages, we take a closer look at the players representing Africa at the NBA’s first ever game on the continent.
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Luol Deng is an NBA All-Star who currently plays for the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He was born in what is now South Sudan, in the city of Wau. His family are of the Dinka people. When he was a kid, his family fled to Egypt in order to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War– which did not end until Deng was 20, in 2005– and eventually ended up in England. While in Egypt, his family met Manute Bol–one of the NBA’s first African players–who mentored both Luol and his brother, Ajou. His family was granted political asylum in England, where Deng played basketball until the age of 14 when he moved to the United States to play at Blair Academy in New Jersey.
During his only season at Duke University, Deng played as if his every moment on the floor counted, leading the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance by playing unselfishly, spreading the ball around, taking smart shots, and offering up the occasional posterizing dunk. He led all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.
During his first season in the NBA, with the Chicago Bulls, Deng made the All-Rookie First Team, averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
In 2010, Deng returned to South Sudan for the first time since his family had fled.
In 2012 and 2013, Deng was voted to the NBA’s Eastern Conference All-Star team.
In the NBA Deng continues the unselfish style of play that Duke’s Coach Mike Krzyzewski is famous for. Deng is one of the few players in the league that consistently gives LeBron James headaches on offense and defense.
Throughout the NBA season, whenever he plays against a team with an African player on their roster, Deng is known to invite his fellow African(s) to dinner the night before to promote unity and camaraderie.
As captain of Team Africa in the NBA’s upcoming exhibition game, look for Deng to take the lead not just by scoring, but by sharing the ball and creating opportunities for his teammates.
Best Play: Watch Deng calmly defeat LeBron James’ Miami Heat with a game-winning three-point shot.
HT: 6’8″
WT: 220 lbs.
DOB: 4-16-85
Background: Born in Wau, Sudan (now South Sudan)
Position: Small Forward
College: Duke University
Drafted: Phoenix Suns, 2004 (7th overall pick)
NBA All-Star: 2012, 2013
Current Team: Miami Heat
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Al-Farouq Aminu is a ferocious dunker and blocks with the same explosiveness. It would be unreasonable to doubt his hustle. The Nigerian forward can play with confidence from anywhere on the floor— at 6’9” that makes him a threat. Aminu has incredible vision when running the fastbreak, oftentimes finding holes in the defense before they open. Expect some of the game’s most memorable plays to come from him.
Best Play: Aminu makes the Rockets look silly with a steal on one end and an emphatic slam on the other.
HT: 6’9″
WT: 215 lbs.
DOB: 9-21-90, Atlanta, Georgia.
Background: Nigerian parents, plays for Nigeria in international competition.
Position: Forward
College: Wake Forest University
Drafted: Los Angeles Clippers, 2010 (8th overall pick)
Current Team: Portland Trailblazers
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The game will see NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NBA Africa Managing Director Amadou Gallo Fall (Senegal), NBA “Global Ambassador” Dikembe Mutumbo (DRC), NBA Africa Ambassador Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), as well as Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri (Nigeria) all in attendance.
The NBA, in its press release for the game, boasts that 35 African players have played in the league since Olajuwon arrived in Houston some 30+ years ago.
In the week leading up to the game, NBA players, coaches and legends are holding sessions on leadership and health and wellness for 59 of the top young players on the continent as part of the 13th edition of Basketball Without Borders Africa.
“I am extremely proud to be a part of the NBA’s first game in Africa,” says Deng. “Coming from South Sudan and having participated in the Basketball without Borders Africa camps in Johannesburg previously, I am truly honored to be part of this historic event.”
Joining Deng on the roster for Team Africa is Al-Farouq Aminu (Nigeria), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Nigeria), Nicolas Batum (Cameroon), Bismack Biyombo (DRC), Boris Diaw (Senegal), Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), Festus Ezeli (Nigeria), Luc Mbah a Moute (Cameroon), Congolese forward Serge Ibaka (who will travel but due to injury won’t play), and last-minute addition Nazr Mohammed (Ghana).
Team World’s roster, in addition to NBA Players’ Association president Chris Paul, includes Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards; U.S.), Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets; U.S.), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies; Spain) and his brother Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls), Jeff Green (Grizzlies; U.S.), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics; U.S.), Evan Turner (Celtics; U.S.), and Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic; Montenegro). Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins will be drawing up Xs and Os for Team World.
In the following pages, we take a closer look at the players representing Africa at the NBA’s first ever game on the continent.
-----------------------------------
- Luol Deng (South Sudan)
Luol Deng is an NBA All-Star who currently plays for the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He was born in what is now South Sudan, in the city of Wau. His family are of the Dinka people. When he was a kid, his family fled to Egypt in order to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War– which did not end until Deng was 20, in 2005– and eventually ended up in England. While in Egypt, his family met Manute Bol–one of the NBA’s first African players–who mentored both Luol and his brother, Ajou. His family was granted political asylum in England, where Deng played basketball until the age of 14 when he moved to the United States to play at Blair Academy in New Jersey.
During his only season at Duke University, Deng played as if his every moment on the floor counted, leading the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance by playing unselfishly, spreading the ball around, taking smart shots, and offering up the occasional posterizing dunk. He led all Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.
During his first season in the NBA, with the Chicago Bulls, Deng made the All-Rookie First Team, averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
In 2010, Deng returned to South Sudan for the first time since his family had fled.
In 2012 and 2013, Deng was voted to the NBA’s Eastern Conference All-Star team.
In the NBA Deng continues the unselfish style of play that Duke’s Coach Mike Krzyzewski is famous for. Deng is one of the few players in the league that consistently gives LeBron James headaches on offense and defense.
Throughout the NBA season, whenever he plays against a team with an African player on their roster, Deng is known to invite his fellow African(s) to dinner the night before to promote unity and camaraderie.
As captain of Team Africa in the NBA’s upcoming exhibition game, look for Deng to take the lead not just by scoring, but by sharing the ball and creating opportunities for his teammates.
Best Play: Watch Deng calmly defeat LeBron James’ Miami Heat with a game-winning three-point shot.
HT: 6’8″
WT: 220 lbs.
DOB: 4-16-85
Background: Born in Wau, Sudan (now South Sudan)
Position: Small Forward
College: Duke University
Drafted: Phoenix Suns, 2004 (7th overall pick)
NBA All-Star: 2012, 2013
Current Team: Miami Heat
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- Al-Farouq Aminu (Nigeria)
Al-Farouq Aminu is a ferocious dunker and blocks with the same explosiveness. It would be unreasonable to doubt his hustle. The Nigerian forward can play with confidence from anywhere on the floor— at 6’9” that makes him a threat. Aminu has incredible vision when running the fastbreak, oftentimes finding holes in the defense before they open. Expect some of the game’s most memorable plays to come from him.
Best Play: Aminu makes the Rockets look silly with a steal on one end and an emphatic slam on the other.
HT: 6’9″
WT: 215 lbs.
DOB: 9-21-90, Atlanta, Georgia.
Background: Nigerian parents, plays for Nigeria in international competition.
Position: Forward
College: Wake Forest University
Drafted: Los Angeles Clippers, 2010 (8th overall pick)
Current Team: Portland Trailblazers
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- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Nigeria)
What he lacks in strength, he makes up for with his extraordinarily long limbs. He can go the length of the floor in just two to three dribbles, which is remarkable to witness and difficult to guard. Aminu and Antetokounmpo running the fast break together is going to be exciting.
Best Play #1: With his height and wingspan, he actually looks like a windmill when he does a windmill dunk.
Best Play #2: Two dribble lay-up
HT: 6’11”
WT: 217 lbs.
DOB: 12-6-94, Athens, Greece.
Background: Nigerian parents.
Position: Small Forward
Drafted: Milwaukee Bucks, 2013 (15th overall pick)
Current Team: Milwaukee Bucks
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- Nicolas Batum (Cameroon)
Nicolas Batum loves to share the ball. Less animated than his fellow Team Africa members, he prefers to let his work do the talking. Batum especially loves throwing alley-oops, which is great considering he’s got Aminu and Antetokounmpo as targets.Best Play: His second career triple-double, in 2014, showed Batum’s stamina and eagerness to hustle on both offense and defense.
HT: 6’8″
WT: 200 lbs.
DOB: 12-214-88, Lisieux, France.
Background: Cameroonian parents.
Position: Small Forward
Drafted: Houston Rockets, 2008 (25th overall pick)
Current Team: Charlotte Hornets
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- Bismack Biyombo (DRC)
Bismack Biyombo is a shot-blocker extraordinaire. Also, have you seen him dunk? If he were flying in my direction I would run away as fast as I could. You do not want to get in his way when he’s going up for a dunk. Best Play: Biyombo with an incredible (and career-high) seven blocks in one game.
HT: 6’9″
WT: 245 lbs.
DOB: 8-28-92, Lubumbashi, DR Congo.
Background: Born and raised in DR Congo.
Position: Center
Drafted: Sacramento Kings, 2011 (7th overall pick)
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
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- Boris Diaw (Senegal)
Diaw is a gifted passer, which is amazing for someone of his stature. It’s also convenient because he plays in San Antonio for Coach Gregg Popovich, who happens to be Team Africa’s coach in the exhibition game. Passing makes Pop happy (though you couldn’t tell by looking at his face), and if Pop is happy then Team Africa will likely defeat Chris Paul and Team World.
Best Play: Diaw is so good at passing that people have made just about a million videos about his passing skills.
HT: 6’8″
WT: 250 lbs.
DOB: 4-16-82, Val-d’Oise, France.
Background: Father from Senegal.
Position: Power Forward
Drafted: Atlanta Hawks, 2003 (21st overall pick)
Current Team: San Antonio Spurs
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- Gorgui Dieng (Senegal)
Best Play: Ricky Rubio dishes to Dieng, Dieng bobbles it, falls backwards, aaaaaand hits the game winner!
HT: 6’11”
WT: 233 lbs.
DOB: 1-18-90, Kebemer, Senegal.
Background: Born and raised in Senegal, plays on Senegalese national team.
Position: Louisville
Drafted: Utah Jazz, 2013 (21st overall pick)
Current Team: Minnesota Timberwolve
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- Festus Ezeli (Nigeria)
There are no confidence issues with Festus Ezeli. He fearlessly attacks the basket, making sure his territory is marked and his presence felt. Expect him to come up big on offense and defense.
Best Play: Here’s the newly-crowned NBA champion throwing down a (Tawk) tomahawk slam dunk just this past season.
Bonus #1: Ezeli got the best of Tyler Hansbrough during a game last season.
Bonus #2: We all got tired of hearing Dellavedova’s name during the Finals this season. Ezeli had to play against that guy for a whole series. That’s probably why he blocked his shot so hard.
HT: 6’11”
WT: 255 lbs.
DOB: 10-21-89, Benin City, Nigeria.
Background: Born and raised in Nigeria.
Position: Center
College: Vanderbilt
Drafted: Golden State Warriors, 2012 (30th overall pick)
Current Team: Golden State Warriors
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- Luc Mbah a Moute (Cameroon)
Mbah a Moute, like his teammates in the exhibition game, is versatile and has proven his ability to carry the team when needed. Paired with Dieng in the post, the blocks and rebounds will be aplenty. (It would be nice to see him improve his free throw percentage)
Best Play: Is LeBron James better than Michael Jordan? Maybe. Did he just get swatted by Mbah a Moute? Absolutely.
HT: 6’8″
WT: 230 lbs.
DOB: 9-9-86, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Background: Born and raised in Cameroon.
Position: Forward
College: UCLA
Drafted: Milwaukee Bucks, 2008 (37th overall pick)
Current Team: Free agent
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- SERGE IBAKA (injured)
The subject of Grantland’s recent documentary Son of the Congo, Congolese forward Serge Ibaka is making the trip to Johannesburg but will be sitting the game out due to injury.HT: 6’11”
WT: 245 lbs.
DOB: 9-18-89, Brazzavile, Republic of the Congo.
Background: Born and raised in Congo.
Position: Forward
Drafted: Seattle Supersonics, 2008 (24th overall pick)
Current Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
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